A typical wargame employs a system of alternate bounds. In each bound one player moves and resolves any resultant combat. The bound then passes to his opponent, and so on until victory falls as it may. Each bound is deemed to last a certain period of time, and to constitute a certain movement distance. Yet the scales here are always fiddled so that reasonable table-top engagements can be accomodated.

A typical wargame is also bedevilled with allegations of slow play, and games which end on time constraints just as the troops get into some serious contact with each other. Clearly something is wrong with the rules. One answer to these problems has been the variable bound system, often called the variable length bound. Players in the Gauteng may have come across this concept when playing Scott Sutherland's Napoleonic rules, published in this edition, or my own English Civil War rules. It was Scott who introduced me to the system, showing me some commercial ACW rules, the name of which escapes me.

The idea originated with George Jeffrey in the 1980's. But perhaps one can see in the history of wargaming two distinct threads, the one deriving from HG Well's "Little Wars", and the other from the Prussian military kriegspiele. The Variable Length Bound flows naturally from the methgods of the kriegspiel. If you have not heard about the variable bound, here is a short synopsis.

Bounds are not fixed to any time or distance scale, but are ... well ... variable. Play moves from one circumstance to another, called by Jeffrey a "Change of Circumstance" or COS. Each change of circumstance is defined by a moment at which any change in orders or execution of orders becomes possible or probable. In a fixed bound game players re-interpret their orders as they move, being able to see their opponent's strategy as it evolves. In the variable bound things work out differently. Perhaps the best way to describe it is to use an example.

Army A needs to clear a low ridge of enemy forces before launching a general assualt along the front. A unit is therefore ordered to assault the ridge at 9am. Only once the ridge is cleared will the general assault be ordered. Army B, however has ordered a cavalry unit to take a bridge on the other flank. Army B's orders are to hold the ridge, which flanks the enemy line and lead an assualt on that flank as soon as the bridge has been taken, and the road to the capital secured. Instead of going through bound after bound in which the lines are stationary except for two units moving like crazy towards their objectives, A quick calculation is done as to which action would come within change of circumstance first. Army B's cavalry would reach the bridge first (within twenty minutes) to combat a detachment of dragoons holding the crossing. However, the assault on the ridge would come within line of sight distance within ten minutes, enabling the defenders to change orders, or seek orders to be changed. Since they are ordered to defend the ridge, no such change would be made, and the action would be brought up to the combat at the bridge. All units would move twenty minute move distances, and the combat resolved. Combat can also be set to resolve only after a certain period, during which the outcome is uncertain, and no unit may act on it. The cavalry therefore fights the dragoons, and the combat result is a thirty minute enagement after which the dragoons will withdraw. No unit may act on this information until the thirty minutes has elapsed, and the dragoons would be visibly retreating.

The advantages of the variable bound are not only in speed of play - combat begins as soon as orders have been declared. Players are forced to follow their orders as no order change can occur before a change of circumstance. This allows for much greater realism, and forces players to think in terms of objectives. There are some disadvantages, however. The time-keeping can get a little hairy, and take some getting used to, but by placing little discs of paper behind each action indicating the time at which the action is resolved, and by moving all inactive units up to the same time on a regular basis, much confusion can be resolved.

Changing orders is not easy, as order changes take time to resolve, with orders having to move through a chain of command in all the Variable Bound rule sets I have seen. The variable bound itself requires orders to be explicit because action moves from one resolution of orders to another, not from one movement to another. For a regiment to be ordered to do anything, the corps commander, brigade commander and regimental commander have to be prompted in that order, with time delays at every level. Good initial plans are thus rewarded, and it is often better to stick to something rather than try to change an army's direction once in motion. This makes for a game with a different set of priorities, and a different feel altogether. Units can react to changing situations, so long as it is within the ambit of their orders.

Within a three hour wargame, most of the action can be resolved, and whole wings are often in flight, or bogged down in lengthy fire-fights, making ending a battle and adjudicating a result much easier. Realistically the variable bound could be used for tournament play as easily as a fixed bound system, with more action possible within a time limit. Battles also feel more realsitic in that there is very little fiddling about with minute element movements in order to win an engagement. Orders win engagements, which gives a greater sense of gratification. You simply love it when a plan comes together. Players are forced to keep reserves to deal with the inevitable collapse, or to exploit a weakness at a critical point. Generals should be close to the reserve to be able to rapidly enact the order at the crucial time. Surely this is a much better test of a player's generalship than the incey-wincey base movements that pass for it in most rules?

I am indebted to Scott Sutherland for his tireless work in promoting the variable bound idea in South Africa. All my experience with the idea comes from our Napoleonic games.